Family,
Well, things here are going great. I am loving life and the work right now.. we've got a lot of good things going on.

This past Monday a member from the other stake here in Junction called us saying he had a lady who he worked with whose son was going through a really hard time in some crazy court cases and he had talked to her about the Priesthood and blessings. She asked her son if he would want one and he said yes. So we got the address and we found out it wasn't in our area but by then it was too late to call the other missionaries to go so we went. When we got there we taught about the Priesthood and blessings in detail a little more and then we gave him the blessing. None of these people were members and they all said that they felt the Spirit there in their home and we felt it too. It was great. but the cool thing was that Carl Fryer, the man who received the blessing just moved into our ward boundaries so we are going to be teaching him. It was cool.

This morning, about 8 of us in the Zone, started at 5:30 and hiked Mount Garfield... making my third time up there... I forgot how hard it was.. It was over a year ago.. when I was about 15 pounds lighter than I am now... (I'm at 150 pounds now... the biggest I've ever been...!!) So it was a little more tough than last time. but we did it and it was really fun.

Yesterday was our investigators birthday so we made him a cake and went over and ate it with him.. it was fun.. he's a funny guy. He was wearing a shirt that said.. "Ask me about microwaving cats for fun and profit." It made me laugh

Today is my "mission birthday" speaking of birthdays... I have been out for 17 months today.. that means only 7 months left... sadly. I will definitely miss being out here. But I'll make it.

So I don't know if I told you but the rest of the Clark family, in Baggs are getting baptized! And I got permission to go! I am so excited. I am going this Friday to Saturday. Travis McGruder lost his job in Craig a few months back and is down here in Grand Junction going to school to get his CDL license. He's here staying with his grandma during the week and then going back to Craig on the weekends so I am going with him. It'll be great. I am so glad I got permission to go.

I'm sorry I don't have much more to say.. I'll talk to you on the phone soon, though!
I love you and take care.
--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Dear Family,

Things here haven't changed much... except for one thing really.
There is an area in our ward that is in Collbran, CO. and it used to have a branch up ther but that branch was dissolved in January and is now part of the Grand Junction 9th Ward. Anyways Elder Sherman and I were up there. And while we were there we found that a lot of people are very bitter about their branch being closed, they blame it on a the "lack of Priesthood Leadership" and that they don't understand.. and then we just happened to be there and they took it out on us and just ranted for about two hours. We talked with the bishop and the stake president about it and ... whew .. yeah its a mess up there.
I was not expecting events like that when I decided to come on a mission.. its really an eye opener.. but I know the Lord has his reason and truly calls those who he needs.

Anyways on a happier note... we have three people we are working with that want to be baptized... So that's great. Two of them do have things that we are working on with them to help them progress more. But there is a 13 year old Anselmo, he's Hispanic, that is very excited. we asked him to pray for a date that he should be baptized on and he came up with July 16th. Its kinda a ways away but its the date he picked and he's great.. he understands everything and he's been coming to church for quite a time now. So that's cool.
We're teaching this guy Craig, he's a bit crazy, but we helped him overcome his fear of coming to church. he was there there Yesterday and will be coming regularly now, he says. So that's cool.

I will take a lot more pictures this week and send that and those pants out to you next week. Okay?

Not much new has happened yet but I'll let you know next week.
Sorry this is a short one but I can't think of much else.
I love you all very much and please take care!

--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Family,

I loved General Conference. It was very up lifting. I think I enjoyed the Saturday Sessions more than the Sunday but they were still good. Yes, we did watch it at the Stake Center with all the Missionaries in the Zone. Between the two sessions on Sat. we went as a Zone to a Chinese Buffet and ate lunch. It was fun. I loved the Priesthood Session. It was very inspiring.
Also between the two Sunday sessions there was a lady in the Stake who wanted to feed all the missionaries because she knew we would be wasting miles driving all the way back to our areas and then back to the stake center so she had us over for lunch. For the Sunday afternoon session, we watched it with an investigator at his house. He seemed to really enjoy it. He'll be baptized pretty soon I am sure of it. He's a little crazy but a good guy who really enjoys learning and wants to change somethings in his life.

You are very right, I do have great Parents. I couldn't have asked for better role models of the Gospel... I've really seen what not having the Gospel in ones life can do to you. And not only you but your family. So thank you for being such amazing examples of faithful service and gospel application.

Yes, I am, sadly, still a Zone Leader.. I am kinda tired of it... there is just too much stuff to worry about on top of trying to get some good work done. ... I really want to be released but I know that if I asked to be released that he'll think that I don't want to be obedient... which is not the case. I just want to focus on being a missionary and not having to worry about all the other stuff. We'll see what happens... I am going to do it because I know its to help me and because there are other missionaries that need my help in some way or another.
I am however enjoying Grand Junction. I love being here because the people are a lot more humble, and we're teaching a lot more. I am seeing a lot of old people... I saw Trent Hill.. he was the guy that Elder Englund and I started teaching, his wife is the YW president. He got baptized and he was at the Priesthood Session of Conference. He is an awesome member.

I really miss everyone at home too.. But what is exciting.. I get to talk to you all again in about a month. Mother's Day is coming up soon. I can't wait.

Well, we are of to get some shopping done and then playing soccer... which I am very excited about.. I miss playing soccer so much. I also miss singing in a choir too.. But soon... I'll live.

Things are going great here and I love you all and miss you very much. Thanks for everything!
Please take care.
Your son, brother and servant of the Lord,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Family,

Well... I did get transferred. I am back in Grand Junction! And I am so excited! I am living in the same apartment I was last time... however I am covering a different ward. So my address is once again: 480 32 1/8 Rd. Clifton, CO 81520. My new Companion is Elder Sherman.. He's from Lebanon... Oregon. So NOT the country in the Middle East. He's a good guy and a hard worker. He isn't really liked by a whole lot of missionaries because he's a little strange but I really like him and we get along really well.. I think we'll do great together.
I love my new area.. it covers parts of Clifton, Palisade and the all the "mountain towns" between Palisade and Collbran. I really like it because we a doing a lot of teaching, which makes me feel less homesick, less stressed, less irritated with my companion(whoever he maybe). I love teaching. One bad thing about the Clifton and Palisade area of Grand Junction is that ... it is basically the "ash-tray" of the state. EVERYONE here smokes... every night I come home smelling like smoke... however luckily the missionary I replaced(which happens to be Elder Plunkett, the one that was in Craig almost the whole time I was there) left behind some Frebreeze which I just spray my clothes down with until I can get them to a dry cleaners, or just wash them.
Speaking of suits.. I would love to send you those pants but they are to my suits and I need them a few times a week when we have the meetings that I am supposed to wear them too... so I don't know how that'll work out. However I think I've thought of a solution... Sister Hamilton ... she's in the 6th ward who Elder Englund and I became very close with lives right around the corner from me and would be more than willing to help me out with that... I'll ask her tomorrow when we have lunch with her. But I'll keep you updated. Thanks.

Being so close to the BYU games really hasn't had much effect on the missionary work the only ones who really talk about it are a few missionaries and the members... no one on the streets has said anything to me about it.

My health is doing fine... I haven't had any headaches in a while which is good.. and my retainer is still intact and fine. I am also doing fine with garments and yes I am gaining weight ... but not much I am between 145-150 now.. so between 25-30 pounds gained in 16 months... pretty good.

I am doing great loving my new area and everything right now.

Thanks for everything and I love you all very much. Please take care and know I miss you all.

Your son and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon

Family,

Well,... we moved into our new house on Saturday morning... and after about two hours we realized that .. they have a cat. And Elder Larsen is very allergic to cats... so he cannot stay there. So we've had to do splits ever night so he doesn't suffocate in his sleep. So that's been an adventure.. we think we've figured out what we're going to do. I feel bad for the Olenders because we just moved into their house and now we're going to have to move out again because of the allergy.. so the missionaries here are going to be moving into another family's house in the other ward because they have the room. But it won't really affect me any, because I am getting transferred.

I asked the APs when they called last night about transfers if I was staying "Metro" or "Out West" and he just said "You'll be going on a trip" So I am going back out west! I am so excited I love it out there... The only thing that's not cool about out west is that you can't go to the Temple. But I went a year without going to the Temple I think I can make it.
Also through deductive reasoning (and a few phone calls) I have discovered that I am going to one of three places. The Grand Mesa Zone, in Grand Junction (if I go there I will be living in the same apartment that I was as a Greenie), the Monument Zone, the other Grand Junction Zone (where the Monument National Park is at), or the Meeker Zone, serving in Rifle (that was my Zone when I was in Craig ... so I'll only be about an hour away.. and could possibly go and see some people there) I am very excited.. and from what I hear the work is going very well in Grand Junction. So that's good news as well.
I will miss a lot of members here... but I am excited for a new chapter in my "Mission Story".
The past two weeks here in Highlands Ranch, the work has picked up a bit which is a good thing at least I can say I did that.. But it still needs a lot of work. I'll put it this way... here we were averaging about 9 lessons a week (between Investigators, Less-actives, and Recent Converts) and other places in the mission are averaging around... 20 lessons a week. So its pretty slow here... But like I said its picking back up.

Anyways... I am being transferred tomorrow and I am trying to pack everything I can tonight... always a fun night... not really but its not bad.

Today as a one last "hurrah" in our district... we all chipped in about five dollars and bought some chicken, and bratwursts and are going to a park and barbequing and playing baseball and frisbee and stuff... so that'll be really fun... then later this afternoon I will be saying goodbye to a lot of people and then packing tonight... so its gonna be a busy day... We've been up very late the past three nights trying to get things ready for transfers and the moving situations and stuff... so I am very tired... But I'll be able to (hopefully, if they don't make me drive) sleep in the car on the way to Grand Junction. But we'll... so rest for the faithful.. at least I hope I am faithful.

Well... I am very sorry but I cannot think of anything else to say today... I'm very sorry...

I love you all and miss you.
Please take care. Moroni 8:3

Your son, and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon